Tainter Lake
| Company type | Hydroelectric power facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Headquarters | Cedar Falls, Wisconsin , United States |
| Products | Electricity |
| Owner | Xcel Energy |
Tainter Lake is a modest-sized reservoir situated in the north-central region of Dunn County, Wisconsin. It lies at the junction where the Red Cedar River meets the Hay River. The lake was formed by a hydroelectric dam located approximately downstream in Cedar Falls and spans an area of about . It has become a favored spot for both vacationers and anglers.
History
The creation of Tainter Lake followed the erection of a dam at Cedar Falls (also known as Kakabika Falls), a project led by Andrew Tainter (1823–1899), a notable lumber magnate and partner in Knapp, Stout and Company. This firm was the largest lumber mill operation in the United States during the 1870s. At its peak, the company managed about of pine forests and employed around 1,200 workers, operating logging camps on nearly every tributary feeding into the Red Cedar River. Their main mill was established on the Menomonee River, around which the town of Menomonie developed; it now serves as the county seat for Dunn County. Logging activities persisted until 1899 when timber supplies were exhausted, leading to the closure of the Cedar Falls mill in 1901.
During its height, vast tracts of forest along the Red Cedar River were cleared to support logging operations. To sustain their workforce, the company operated farms supplying food to loggers, while early settlers also farmed lands cleared adjacent to the river. By the mid-1880s, approximately 90% of the area was forested with native grasses covering about 10%. However, by the early 1980s, forest coverage had declined to less than half, with agricultural land expanding to 40%. These changes in land use have played a role in ongoing environmental problems in Tainter Lake, such as frequent algal blooms.
Geography
Tainter Lake is positioned within the Town of Tainter in northern Dunn County. A slender channel bisects the lake into North and South sections, generating some of its narrowest points—around 50 ft wide—and deepest areas reaching 35 ft. The lake’s mean depth is .
There are several small resorts along its shoreline; however, it is not widely recognized for supporting large fish populations. Fishing conditions tend to be better in North Tainter Lake due to numerous fish cribs installed over two decades ago, shallower waters, and a variety of spawning habitats.
The primary inflows to North Tainter Lake are the Red Cedar River and the Hay River, both draining nearby agricultural lands. The TMLIA (Tainter Menomin Lake Improvement Association) actively works to mitigate algae problems and enhance water quality. Downstream from the Cedar Falls dam, the Red Cedar River travels roughly three miles (5 km) before entering Lake Menomin, which is also regulated by a dam. Since this dam is the final barrier on the Red Cedar before it joins the Mississippi River, fishing along this stretch outside of regulated seasons is allowed.
Fishing
Prominent fish species inhabiting Tainter Lake include walleye, black crappie, and bluegill. Other common species are yellow perch, northern pike, common carp, white bass, and bowfin. Water clarity diminishes during August due to algal blooms, negatively affecting fishing conditions. Walleye experience significant angling pressure throughout the year, with average sizes below 15 inches; regulations permit keeping only walleye measuring between 20 and 24 inches.
Cedar Falls Hydroelectric Facility
The Cedar Falls Hydroelectric Project, managed by Xcel Energy, creates an impoundment known as Tainter Lake. Situated near Cedar Falls, Wisconsin, this facility includes a dam measuring long and high. Its generating station is equipped with three turbines, each rated at 2,000 kW, combining for a total output capacity of 7.1 MW. Annually, the plant generates in excess of 33.6 million kilowatt hours. This project, which operates as a modified run-of-the-river hydroelectricity system, has its origins in a timber dam replaced by a concrete structure in 1910; the installation of generators followed in 1912 and 1915.
In 2005, the original dam gates—constructed from plywood and designed to break during ice melt—were replaced with Obermeyer spillway gates featuring inflatable rubber bladders. This enhancement allows for more stable water levels in the lake throughout the year. However, the upgrade initially caused the water level to decline by approximately 5 or , leading to erosion along dock areas and necessitating residents to shorten their docks due to increased water depth once normal levels were restored.